Belabbes Benkredda is an Algerian-German social innovator, writer, television commentator, and government consultant who specializes in public diplomacy. He is the founder of The Munathara Initiative, an Arab online and television debate forum that promotes the voices of youth, women and marginalized communities in the Arab public. He was a recipient of the 2013 Democracy Award of the National Democratic Institute, and is a Fellow of the

Salzburg Global Seminar Salzburg Global Seminar is a non-profit organization that challenges current and future leaders to shape a better world. It convenes programs on health care, education, culture, finance, technology, public policy, media, human rights, corporate g ...

. In 2016 he was named a World Fellow by

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...

Education and career

Benkredda received an undergraduate degree in Frankfurt, at

Goethe University Goethe University (german: link=no, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main) is a university located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It was founded in 1914 as a citizens' university, which means it was founded and funded by the wealt ...

. He studied international relations and philosophy of law, graduating with an MA in Middle East Politics from the

University of Exeter , mottoeng = "We Follow the Light" , established = 1838 - St Luke's College1855 - Exeter School of Art1863 - Exeter School of Science 1955 - University of Exeter (received royal charter) , type = Public , ...

. He worked for the

German Foreign Office , logo = DEgov-AA-Logo en.svg , logo_width = 260 px , image = Auswaertiges Amt Berlin Eingang.jpg , picture_width = 300px , image_caption = Entrance to the Foreign Office building , headquarters = Werderscher Mark ...

in Berlin, the

Council for Arab-British Understanding The Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), is a not-for-profit organisation that works for a British Middle East policy rooted in support for international law, human rights and civil society. Since it was founded in 1967, Caabu has taken ...

in London, and for Zenith Magazine in various cities in the Middle East. He has also worked for the

League of Arab States League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football Sports * Sports league * Rugby league, full contact footba ...

and the

Peace Research Institute Frankfurt The Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (acronym: PRIF, German: Leibniz-Institut Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, short HSFK) is a research institute in Frankfurt am Main focused on violent international and internal conflicts ...

. His articles on media and democracy in the Arab world have appeared in Gulf News, Khaleej Times, The National and the European Magazine. He has contributed commentary on Arab affairs to a number of international media, including Aljazeera TV,

Spiegel Online ''Der Spiegel (online)'' is a German news website. Before the renaming in January 2020, the website's name was ''Spiegel Online'' (short ''SPON''). It was founded in 1994 as the online offshoot of the German news magazine, '' Der Spiegel'', w ...

, and the New York Times. Benkredda is one of the founders of the Berlin-based think tank Candid Foundation. In 2019, he co-initiated

Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...

's first-ever televised candidate debate in the run-up to the

2019 Tunisian presidential election Presidential elections were held in Tunisia on 15 September 2019, the second direct vote for the presidency since the 2011 revolution. The elections had originally been planned for 17 and 24 November, but were brought forward after the death of ...

Dubai Debates

In January 2011, Benkredda founded the Dubai Debates, intending for it to be an independent platform for discussing important issues facing the Arab world. The project was supported by groups such as KAS (

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung The Konrad Adenauer Foundation (german: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, KAS) is a German political party foundation associated with but independent of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The foundation's headquarters are located in Sank ...

), Vital Voices, and CNN International. In the spring of 2012, he suspended the project and created a sister organization in Tunis, Tunisia.

The Munathara Initiative

The Dubai Debates ceased its operations and Benkredda founded The Munathara Initiative in 2012. This successor program is set up in a similar way and takes a three-pronged approach to debates: community outreach, online and social media participation, and a live debate event. Live television debates have been held in Tunis, Sanaa, Amman and Istanbul.

Awards and recognition

*Recipient of the 2013 Democracy Award of the National Democratic Institute *He is also an alumnus of the Sessions of the

, referred to as a Salzburg Global Fellow. *He also received the Nazih Ayubi Memorial Award in 2004.

External links

Munathara Initiative Official SiteSalzburg Global SeminarVItal Voices Official website

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benkredda, Belabbes People from Tunis People from Dubai Peace and conflict scholars Year of birth missing (living people) Television people from Frankfurt Living people